Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 637,!64. Patented N ov. l4, I899. A. v. SANFORD..

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 189.8.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets$heel l,

wage,

w: NORRV5 PETERS co. PHOTQUTHO" WASHINGTON, [1.0.

No* 637,|64. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

A. V. SANFORD.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

. (Application filed Nov. 30, 1898.) PANEL) 4 Sheets-She 2.

No. 637,!64. Patented Nov. l4, I899.

A. v. SANFORD. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

I (Application filed Nov. 30, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

M w f TNE nonms PETERS c0. wnoruumon WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 637,|64. Patented Nov. |4 I899. A. V.-SANFORD. ACETYLENE GASGENERATOR.

(Application filed Nov. 80, 1898.) (No Model.) 4 $haats8heet 4.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEiOE.

ADDISON v. SANFORD, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To THE DRAKE AOETYLENEGAS GENERATOR COMPANY, OF GORNING, NEW YORK.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 637,164, dated November14, 1899. Application filed November 30, 189 8- Serial No. 697,862. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: I 7

Be it known that I, ADDIsoN V. SANFORD,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elmira, in the countyof Ohemung and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Acetylene- Gas Generators, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of acetylene-gas machines in whichcalcium carbid is deposited, in measured quantities and at intervalsdetermined by the supply of gas in the gasometer, into a body of water,in which gas is generated and evolved in a generatingchamber, fromwhence it escapes to the gasometer. The main difficulties encountered inoperating machines upon this plan are the slaking or deteriorating ofthe carbid while standing in the feeding device, the mixing of air withthe gas produced in the generator when charging the machines with carbidor when drawing off the residuum and refilling with Water, by which thecharacter of the latter is deteriorated, the escape of gas from themachine to the surrounding atmosphere during such recharging orcleaning, with consequent danger of explosion, from loss of gas, andimposing upon the gasometer too much work and inconstant work in drivingthe feeding device, whereby the pressure of the float is reduced and theforce of gas rendered fluctuated.

My invention obviates these various difficulties, first, by improvedfeeding mechanism located entirely outside the generator or inclosed ina separate compartment having a casing with a door of sufficient sizethrough which the buckets or carbid-holders may be removed when fillingis necessary, said car- 40 bid-holders being thereby protected againstdeterioration of their contained carbid or each holder beingindividually kept hermetically closed, so'as to avoid deterioration ofthe carbid second, the utilization of a sealed chute by which tointroduce the carbid into the generating-chamber without admitting airto the latter; third, the provision of a waste-chamber above thegenerating-chamber in which any escaping gas or all odor 5o arising fromthe body of water below is collected and from which it is discharged byan burners at all times.

Myinvention consists in certain novel details of constructionhereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims, and which will befully understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure l is a side elevation of an acetylenegas-generating machinehaving applied thereto various features of my invention, part of thebody of thegenerating-chamber being broken away for the purpose ofexposing the chute, which is shown in section. Figs. 2 and 3 are topplan views of the generator, the

feeding mechanism being omitted in the latter view. Fig. 4 is anenlarged vertical section of the upper portion of the generator andfeeding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view of anautomatically-closing door which admits carbid to the generator byyielding to the weight of the carbid when deposited upon the door. Fig.6 isadetail perspective of one of the detachably-mounted invertedcarbid-holders, showing also the trippinglatch for the hinging bottomthereof. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the actuating lever or arm of thefeeding mechanism looking at the inner side of the arm.

Referring to Fig. 1, the general plan of the machine comprises, forpurposes of illustration, a generator 1., having a generatingchamber l apurifier 2, a gasometer 3, having a float 4, and a feeding mechanism 5,controlled by said float. The control of the feeding mechanism by thefloat is effected through 5 a shaft 6, controlled by a lever or arm 7,to which is attached a cord 8, passing over pul-' leys 9 and 10, andhaving its other end secured to the gasometer-float at 11. Theseconnections are so proportioned that the feed- 10o ing mechanism ismoved continuously by the downward movement of the float, and the loadimposed upon the latter and the pressure of gas in the service-pipes arethereby rendered constant.

The generator has a supply-pipe 12 and a discharge-port 13, and may alsobe provided with a suitable agitator 14 for stirring up the precipitatewhen the generator is cleansed. In order to keep the supply-of water inthe generator constant when drawing oit the residuum and refilling withwater, I provide a tank 15, connected with the pipe 12, the effect ofwhich is to deliver to the generator as much water as is discharged fromthe generator in the act of cleansing, and thereby prevent lowering ofthe level to such an extent as would unseal the generator and admit airto the gaschamber. The generator is further provided with a top 16 and ahorizontal partition 17, which together form above the gas-chain her awaste-chamber 18, which communicates with a pipe 19, through which maybe discharged to a fine or chimney any waste gases or odor whichcollects in the chamber l8,aud thus prevent escape of said gases orodorinto the room surrounding the machine.

The safety-valve employed for my machine for the purpose of permittingescape of overproduction of gas, should such occur, is represented at20, and consists of any suitable form of Valve of known constructionsuitably loaded by spring or weight to resist normal pressure developedin the generator. I have represented the valve 20 a cup-shapedclapvalve, in the hollow of which may be placed weights 20 for imposingadditional weight upon the valve.

21 represents a chute depending from the partition 17, dipping beneaththe water in the generator and terminating in a discharge-passage 22,guarded by a deflector 23, and thereby providing means for deliveringcarbid into the generating-chamber without admitting air thereto orpermitting generated gas to escape therefrom. Carbid gains access to thegenerator through an opening 24 normally guarded by anautomatically-closing door 25, hinged at 26, Fig. 5, and closingagainsta packing 27 to hermetically close the chamber 18. The door isheld normally closed by a lever 28, fulcrumed at 29 and carrying at itsinner end a roller 28, which bears beneath a block 30, fixed to theunder side of the door and journaled to the inner end of the lever 28,said lever being counterbalanced by a weight 31, rendered adjustable bya set-screw 32. The counterbalance is snfiicient to hold the doorclosed, but readily yields to the weight of carbid deposited upon thedoor and permits the same to pass into the chute 21, by which it isdirected to the generating-chamber.

The feeding mechanism consists of a spider 33, mounted upon the verticalshaft 33, supported in a ball-bearing step 16 and steadied at top by theframe 1 of the generator, which spider has radiatingarms 34 34, of whichthe arms 34 extend outward and support an outer circular series ofremovable carbid-holders 36, while the arms 34 are shorter and inalternating radial position with the arms 34, and

extend to an inner circular series of removable carbid-holders 36. Ithus provide two concentric circular series of carbid-holders, theindividual holders of each of which series discharge through the opening24 upon the door 25, as will appear from Figs. 2 and 3, and whichholders of the respective series are staggered or alternated in radialposition, so that each may be independently discharged by a commondevice and the discharge of the respective holders will be successive.This arrangement of holders is very advantageous in that it permits theuse of a greatly-increased number of charges by amere multiplication ofholders without additional complication of cooperating parts of themachine. Each holder, whether for the inner or the outerseries, consistsof an inverted can or cup detachably mounted upon an arm of the spider,the spider-arms being provided with fiattened ends for this purpose andthe holders being provided with straps or sockets 35. Each holder isfurther provided with ahinging bottom or closure 37, pivoted at 38,closing against a rubber gasket or packing 39 and held closed by anadjustable trippingdetent 40, which is swiveled at 41 upon the holderand carries a shoulder 42, which engages the closure or bottom. Thetripping-detent is adjustable relatively to the swinging bottom byreason of the shoulder 42 being attached through the medium of screw 42,which passes through slot 42" and enters the shoulder 42, so that thewear between the parts 42 and 37 can be compensated for by adjustingsaid shoulder and the bottom always held hermetically closed. The swivelis so located that the detent 40 will swing in the direction opposite tothat in which the holder travels, and the detents of the inner and outerseries of holders are arranged on opposite sides of the circulardividing-line between the holders. It therefore becomes necessary toemploy but a single device for tripping the holders of both the innerand outer series, and for this purpose I provide a cam 43, located inthe path in which the detent travels and of sufficient width to engagethe detents of both the outer and inner series. The cam 43 being locatedover the opening 24 insures the discharge of each holder upon thetrap-door 25; but holders of the inner and outer series are not trippedsimultaneously, for the reason that they occupy difierent radialpositions. Moreover, as the holders are radially alternated or staggeredthe individual holders of the outer and inner serics will be alternatelydischarged. In order that the feeding device may be rotated when settingup the holders without discharging the contents thereof, cam 43 ismounted on a shaft 44 and may be turned down by the crank 45, Figs. 2and 3, out of the path of the detents. An important advantage isattained by having the holders removable. -By this means I am enabled tohave them opened at one end only and to invert them for filling. Afurther advantage arises from the fact that the holders can be entirelyremoved from the machine to a place of safety and convenience forfilling, and thus avoid waste and the dangerous effects from droppingparticles of the carbid about the machine. Gas-machines are usuallylocated in cellars or other places where dampness will cause slaking ofthe carbid. Hence the desirability of preventing Waste of the materialabout the machine and of keeping the holders tightly closed. Themachines are likewise usually located where an illuminant is necessaryin handling the machines. Hence the desirability of being able to detachthe carbid-holders or buckets from the spider 33 and permitting theirremoval to a more desirable and convenient place for filling.

In order that the actuating lever or arm 7 of the feeding device mayimpart constant movement to the latter, it is preferably constructed, asshown in Fig. 6, with a pawl 46 impinging the wheel 47 on the shaft 6.Said arm is likewise provided with perforations 48 for attachment of thecord 8, as hereinbefore explained.

An acetylene-gas machine constructed as herein shown and describedaffords a practical embodiment of the essential features of a successfulmachine and accomplishes the various objects first herein mentioned.

If by reason of the adhering of small particles of carbid an odor isgiven off from the buckets after their contents are discharged, this maybe avoided and the charging of the machine may be made more convenientby inclosing each charge of carbid in a sack or envelop which will besufficient to cause all of the carbid to discharge and'prevent adherenceof any particles to the feeding mechanism outside the generator, thesacks or envelops being of some material which is readily perishable inwater and which would free the carbid promptly after the sack or envelopbecame saturated. The use of such a sack or envelop would involve thefurther advantage of permitting the charges of carbid to be made up inmeasured quantities at convenient places and introduced into the machineat the place of use without danger of scatteringthe carbid about.

As stated, if desirable the feeding mechanism may be incased in anysuitable mannersueh, for instance, as by havinga sheetmetal covering orhousing set over the-same and resting on the plate 16 of the machine.The feeding mechanism would still be entirely outside of the generatorand the manipulation and operation of the machine would remainunchanged, a door of sufficient dimensions being formed in the casingfor the feeding mechanism to give ready access to the carbid-holders orbuckets and permit their being removed and replaced at will.

Having thus described my invention, the

following is What I claim as new therein and desire to secure by LettersPatent:

1. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of agenerating-chamber, a closed top for said chamber having an eccentricfeedvopening, a horizontally-rotating spider for carbid-holdersconcentrically mounted upon the top of the generator, holders mountedupon the spider at a radial distance which brings them successively overthe feed-opening in the top of the generator, and movable radially intoand out of engagement with the spider-arms, swinging closures for thelower 'ends of said holders, detents for said closures mounted uponpivots radially disposed to the spider on the sides of the holders nextto the center of the spider, and means mounted upon the generator at aradial distance which brings it within the path of the holders forengaging and releasing said detents as each holder comes verticallyabove the dischargeopening; substantially as herein explained.

2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination of agenerating-chamber having a feed-opening in its top, ahorizontally-rotating spider centrally mounted above said generator andhaving radial arms, inverted carbid-holders having sockets on theirupper closed ends engaging with the spider-arms, and havingdownwardly-swinging closures for their lower ends with detentsreleasable by movement in the direction in which the holders travel withthe spider, and means on the generator for engaging the detents as theholders move past the feed-opening of the generator and thereby causethe discharge of the contents of the holders successively into saidfeed-opening, as herein explained.

3. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a generating-chamber having aclosed top provided with a door-opening, a partition providing awaste-cham ber above the generatingchamber and having a sealedcommunication therewith, a discharge-outlet from the wastechamber, anautomatically-closing door for the opening in the top, and means forsupplying carbid upon the door, substantially as described.

4. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a generating-chamber having aclosed top provided with a door-opening, a partition providinga'waste-chamber located above and having a passage communicating withsaid generating-chamber, and a door admitting carbid to thewaste-chamber above the passage from said Waste-chamber to thegenerating-chamber; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a generating-chamber having aclosed top provided with a door-opening, a partition providing awaste-chamber located above and communicating with saidgenerating-chamher, and an automatic door afiording communication fromthe outside into said wastechamber; substantially as set forth.

6. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a generating-chamber, awaste-chamber located above and communicating through a sealed passagewith said gen eratin g-cha mber, an escape-outlet for gas from saidwaste-chamber, and a safety-valve communicating between thegenerating-chamber and the wastechamber, whereby surplus of generatedgas maybe discharged through a determined outlet and prevented fromentering the room in which the generator is located; substantially asherein explained.

'7. A feeding mechanism for acetylene-gas generators, comprising arotating support and inner and outer series of carbid-holders mountedupon said rotating support in position to bring the outer series atgreater radial distance from the center of rotation than the innerseries, and suitable means for controlling the discharge of carbid fromthe holders of both series, by the rotation of the support;substantially as herein set forth.

8. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a feeding mechanism, a rotatingsupport, and a plurality of circular series of carbid-holders mountedthereon, the holders of one series alternating in radial position withthose of an adjacent series; substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

9. A feeding mechanism for acetylene-gas generators, comprising arotating spider having two series of radial arms differing in length andalternating in position, and earbid-holders removably mounted upon theends of said radial arms so as to arrange them in two series of holdersat different radial distances from the center of rotation of the spider,and thereby adapting them for separate manipulation; substantially asherein explained.

10. In combination with an acetylene-gas generator,ahorizontally-rotatable spider having arms adapted to receivecarbid-holders,

, and carbid-holders mounted upon the ends of 11. A feeding mechanismfor acetylene-gas generators comprising a rotating support,carbid-holders mounted upon said support in two concentric series atdifierent distances from the center of rotation, closures for thedischarging ends of the respective carbidholders, and latches forholding said closures in closed position and projecting into engagementwith a fixed tripping device, whereby said latches are successivelytripped by the movement of the holders with the rotating support;substantially as herein explained.

12. An acetylene-gas generator comprising feeding mechanism, a rotatingsupport and two circular series of holders mounted upon said support,and each provided with an independently-tripping closure, and withlatches adjacent to the dividing=line between the two series, means forimparting rotation to the support, and a tripping device located upon afixed part in the path of the latches of the closures; substantially asand for the'purpose set forth.

13. An acetylene-gas generator comprising a feeding mechanism, ahorizontally rotating support having radial arms, and carbid-holdersprovided with sockets fitting upon said radial arms and placed inposition or removed by radial movement on the arms, and tripping devicesfor keeping the holders closed, engaged and released by thecircumferential movement of the holders; substantially as hereinexplained.

14. In combination with a moving part of a carbid-feeding mechanism, aholder mounted upon said moving part and provided with a swingingclosure for its discharging end, a swinging latch-arm mounted upon theholder, and a shoulder carried by said latch-arm, engaging beneath theswinging closure and adj ustable to and from the latter; substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

ADDISON v. SANFORD.

Witnesses:

O. M. HYDE, R. S. HEERMANS.

